GD12 – Erie Otters vs. Kitchener Rangers – Jan. 1, 2017

1) Today marks the second of six meetings between the Kitchener Rangers and Erie Otters. The Otters skated to a 7-3 victory in their first meeting on November 5th, after Erie responded with five unanswered goals in the third period for the come-from-behind win.

2) The Kitchener Rangers boast the 4th best home and overall PP in the league, executing at 23.7%. Their 19 goals at home on the power play are the second most in the OHL. Kitchener’s home PK has dropped to 15th at 79.4%.

3) The Otters have the OHL’s best overall power play (25.6%) and third best mark on the road (24.2%). Their PK is third overall in the league (85.3%), but ranks 10th while on the road at an 80% efficiency.

4) The teams were set to meet for the second time this season – and first time in Erie – on December 14th, but the game was postponed due to inclement weather and poor travel conditions and rescheduled to January 24th.

5) Each team is missing players due to World Junior competition, as Rangers’ Jeremy Bracco is skating with Team USA, while Otters’ Taylor Raddysh and Dylan Strome are members of Team Canada, and Erik Cernak with Slovakia.

6) The Otters are looking to avoid dropping three straight games for just the second time this season. (Nov. 12 – Nov. 18)

7) Alex DeBrincat tallied a four-point night – two goals and two assists, including the game winner – to help propel Erie to the win in their last meeting vs. the Rangers.

8) DeBrincat leads the league in both points (64) and goals (31). Rangers’ Adam Mascherin ranks third in the OHL in points (56) and third in goals (25). Mascherin’s ten power play goals are a league best in that category.

9) Kitchener has scored the game’s opening goal in 20 of 34 games this season, going 13-7 in that span. They are 7-7 when allowing the first goal of the game. The Otters have a record of 17-4 when scoring first. They are 7-6 when allowing the first goal.

11) The Otters have scored the majority of their goals (52) in the third period, while holding their opponents to the fewest goals against in the final frame (26). On the season, they have outscored their opponents 149-95.

12) The Otters are 7-7-1-0 this season on the road. The Kitchener Rangers are 11-5-0-1 at the Aud.

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